<span class="articleThumb floatright"><a href="javascript:openGalleryItemWindow('http://www.theonering.com/gallery/item.sd?iid=6073',740,560,6073);"><img src="http://www.theonering.com/images/medialibrary/gandalfandfrodo020830b.jpg_thumb.jpg"></a><span class="articleThumbCaption">Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Gandalf (Ian McKellen)</span></span>Elijah Wood (Frodo in <em>The Lord of the Rings</em>) has expressed his support for Peter Jackson to direct <em>The Hobbit</em>. He told <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_listing.asp?filmid=5975&sec=news">MyMovies.net</a>:<blockquote><p>If [Peter] ultimately doesn't come back because of what New Line has done I think it would be a great tragedy. I think it's ultimately quite foolish for New Line to move forward assuming they can create an equally wonderful film without Peter... and I think for that for fans that‘s tragic. "For a long time I never kind of imagined that these movies would ever be made, so if they do get made I think they should be made by Peter.</p><p>I don't think it's ultimately over though, I think the arguments still up in the air. There's talk that New Line will ultimately lose the rights to ["The Hobbit"] and that the rights will fall to the Saul Zaentz company, which is what Saul Zaentz is now saying, so who knows? I think it remains to be seen ultimately what will happen, but it makes me nervous.</p></blockquote><p>Ian McKellen (Gandalf in <em>The Lord of the Rings</em>) also wrote on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mckellen.com/epost/lotr/061122.htm">his website</a>:</p><blockquote><p>I am very sad as I should have relished re-visiting Middle Earth with Peter again as team-leader. It's hard to imagine any other director matching his achievement in Tolkien country. We will have to await developments but being an optimist I am hoping that New Line, MGM and Wingnut can settle outstanding problems so that the long expected "Hobbit" is filmed sooner rather than later.</p></blockquote><p>Clearly--and as expected--the cast supports Jackson helming <em>The Hobbit</em>. If you want your voice to be heard (whether you think Jackson should direct <em>The Hobbit</em> or not), go ahead <a href="/petition">add your signature to one of the petitions</a>.</p><p> </p>